“The National Environmental Policy Act is this nation's environmental Magna Carta, ensuring that government decision makers consider the effects of their actions on the environment and giving the public a voice regarding federal projects that may profoundly affect their lives. For the past 40 years, the regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality have guided federal agencies in their implementation of NEPA, ensuring the integrity of the environmental review process. The announcement that the Trump administration plans to review and ‘update’ the CEQ regulations is thus deeply concerning.

“With such a dismal track record of protecting our environment, and with such open interest in promoting the interests of developers and oil drillers, the Trump administration cannot be trusted when meddling with our nation’s bedrock environmental laws. With this administration, ‘review’ often means ‘repeal,’ and we will not allow that to happen.”

Defenders of Wildlife is dedicated to the protection of all native animals and plants in their natural communities. With over 1.8 million members and activists, Defenders of Wildlife is a leading advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard our wildlife heritage for generations to come. For more information, visit Newsroom.Defenders.org and follow us on Twitter @DefendersNews.